The majority of the folks in the Misery Bay Dulcimer Club play the Appalacian Mountain Dulcimer, one of America's true folk instruments. This dulcimer is played using fingerpicking, flatpicking, or strumming techniques and our club members are encouraged to develop their own favorite playing styles to contribute to a sensational and unique-sounding group effort. The hammered dulcimer is also played by a few club members. This instrument is sometimes referred to as the lumberjack's piano and is the ancient dulcimer referred to in the Bible. Other folk instruments such as the fiddle, autoharp, mandolin, bowed psaltery, guitar, penny whistle, bodhran and spoons occasionally appear at club events to compliment the dulcimers being played. 

Every year, club members volunteer their time and talents to teach an adult beginner dulcimer class for 8 Thursday evenings in April and May at the Asbury Woods Nature Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. A small fee is charged, which goes towards building the trails at the Nature Center. Upon completion of the course, the new dulcimer players are invited to further their study of the dulcimer by joining the club. In this way, hundreds of folks have learned to play the mountain dulcimer in Northwestern Pennsylvania. 

The Misery Bay Dulcimer Club has completed three music books. The first project was entitled "Sea Chanteys from Misery Bay" ~ consisting of both traditional and original sea chantey music. This was followed by "The Strolling Fiddler" ~ a collection of Welsh music.The latest undertaking was an assortment of song lyrics entitled the "Misery Bay Dulcimer Club Song Book" which is used during our popular sing-a-long concerts.

The club performances feature music ranging from the intricate harmonies of soft rounds, lovely waltzes, sacred hymns, classical & Renaissance music, to lively sea chanteys, humorous folk ballads,traditional fiddle tunes, Appalacian Mountain music, and ethnic music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and many other countries. During the Christmas Season, the club enjoys performing carols from European countries such as Germany, Poland and Sweden, as well as the good old American tunes. 

The Misery Bay Dulcimer Club, which presently has 18 active members, meets on Tuesday evenings, year round, and performs at least once a month at area nursing homes, hospitals, schools, churches and community events. To date, well over 300 concerts have been performed.